Pin up girls or cheesecake models have been popular since the early 20th centry – here are my pick of my favourites and the most influential.
Betty Grable
Betty Grable was one of the most popular pin up girls during WW2. Famed for having the best legs in Hollywood her pin up photos were a real favourite stuck on the lockers of GIs.
Above: Source and copyright: Some rights reserved by Jack’s Movie Mania
The Gibson Girl
Above: source and copyright: Some rights reserved by Stmarygypsy
Varga Girls
Varga girls are some of the most iconic pin up images – partly because they were copied onto the noses of planes during the Second World War as symbols of good luck.
Alberto Vargas started painting quite modest beauties for Esquire Magazine during the 1930s but during the war the girls became more and more risque as they played dress up in military uniforms. Thouseands of copies of Esquire were sent to American troops as a morale boosting exercise during WW2.
Above: Source and copyright: Some rights reserved by grumlinas
Bettie Page
The ‘Queen of Pinups’ and a popular pinup girl of the 1950s, Bettie Page is famed for her fetish and bondage photos. Her style is still emulated today with her trademark bright blue eyes, trademark black hair and short fringe.
Above: Source and copyright: Some rights reserved by Pedula Man
Marilyn Monroe
Above: Source and copyright: Some rights reserved by Antonio Marín Segovia
Jane Russell
Jane Russell caused outrage when she displayed her ample cleavage for her first mainstream move The Outlaw. She never really looked back after that…
Photo: Source and copyright: Some rights reserved by Jack’s Movie Mania
Brigitte Bardot
French actress Brigitte Bardot reached fame in 1956 when she starred in And God Created Woman which launched her sex kitten image. She was one of the iconic sex symbols of the 1960s with her big hair and kohl rimmed eyes.
Above: Source and copyright: Some rights reserved by Jack’s Movie Mania
So, which pin up girl is your favourite? And did I miss anyone important out..? Let me know what you think!
Beautiful…
Miss Stacy Blaise
ah, but who’s your favourite?
I think Bridget Bardot.
Very hard choice though.
Stacy Blaise
Betty Grable was just stunning but Vargas is the king of pinups and I would say one of the more influential artist except Gil Elvgren.
Brigitte Bardot looks so much like Julie Christie (in Dr. Zhivago) in this photo.
Oh and I really like Varga Girls.
Jane Russell is very beautiful – I love her in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes with Marilyn.
Yes I was wondering what happened to Gil Elvgren’s girls? Bettie Page and Jane Russell would be my favorites. Go brunettes!
Very true – Gil Elvgren’s pinups should probably be in there too…
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